Police must create plans for pet encounters

Georgia police agencies must develop policies for how to handle domestic pets under legislation approved in the state House on Tuesday.

House Bill 803, by Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, seeks to prevent the shooting deaths of pets during police actions.

Benton said more than 250,000 dogs nationally have been shot by police and more than 140 over three years in Georgia. Benton said nearly half of all officer-involved shootings involve someone’s pet.